Amy Hardcastle, the St Helens centre who is England women’s all-time record try scorer, has announced her international retirement at 37. She scored 30 tries in 29 appearances for her country, having made her international debut in 2009.
A month before the Rugby League World Cup kicks off, the announcement arrives. Had she remained with the squad, Hardcastle would have taken her place among those selected. She has already appeared at the past three tournaments.
What Hardcastle Has Achieved
Hardcastle was the only England player selected in the Women’s Team of the Decade, picked by the NRL in 2020 to highlight the outstanding players of the 2010s. Her record of 30 tries in 29 caps stands as the highest total for any player in the England women’s side.
Her career span has been long and consistent:
- International debut in 2009
- 30 tries in 29 caps
- Only England player in the NRL Women’s Team of the Decade
- Three Rugby League World Cups
- 37 years old at retirement
She leaves the international game with that record still in hand.
Her Farewell Message
Hardcastle described playing for England as the highest honour of her rugby league career. She noted that doing it alongside so many outstanding teammates while representing her family, clubs and community has been everything to her.
After much thought, she has decided this is the moment to leave the international game behind. She is deeply proud of what the team has accomplished and how far women’s rugby league has advanced since she started playing.
The player expressed gratitude to everyone involved in her time with the national team: coaches, teammates, members of staff and supporters alike. She will be the loudest supporter of the players chosen to travel to Australia, and she offers her best wishes to the squad and Stuart Barrow as they compete at the Rugby League World Cup.
What Barrow Says About Her
Stuart Barrow, the England head coach, praised Hardcastle in his own statement, saying “She has been an outstanding ambassador for the sport, a role model for young players and someone who has consistently driven standards on and off the field,”.
“Throughout her international career, Amy has shown professionalism, resilience and an unwavering commitment to the England programme. She has performed on the biggest stages, inspired team-mates and helped elevate the profile of women’s rugby league both nationally and internationally.”
The World Cup and What Comes Next
On 17 October, England’s first World Cup fixture sees them face Wales in Perth. Hardcastle will be among the spectators rather than a participant on the pitch, although she will keep playing at club level.
A standard has been set that may be difficult for others to match. Thirty tries across 29 caps speak to a striking record, while being the only England player named to the NRL Women’s Team of the Decade demonstrates how much her peers held her in esteem over her decade of play.
Hardcastle’s farewell is a reminder of how far women’s rugby league has come since she first pulled on the national shirt in 2009. She was there at the beginning of the decade, and she leaves near the top of the game.
The loss of a defining player of her generation leaves England bereft. The team has lost a leader. However, Hardcastle is not retiring from the sport altogether — she intends to keep playing at club level, where she can still set an example for the young players emerging.
The tournament will proceed without her, yet her influence will remain. She has demanded the highest standard from the group, and she will be keeping a close eye on how they perform.
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